This is the Discussion Thread for this adventure, being an expanded and possibly modified version of Feast of Ravenmoor. Character creation guidelines are as follows:

- 25 point buy
- characters start at 3rd level
- 2 traits
- average wealth by level (3,000 gp) in gear, characters should begin play with roughly 10gp or less in available funds
- the following classes are not available for play in this game: gunslinger, ninja, summoner, or any build that focuses on controlling/creating undead.
- any non-evil alignment, but please be a grownup if you're hoping to play CN. Disruption for its own sake isn't fun for me.
- core races are fine, exotic races will be approved on a case by case basis, custom races are not available
- subject to the restrictions above, if it's in a Paizo book it's fair game. 3pp materials are not likely to be approved, but hey, it doesn't hurt to ask.
- please complete your character in a dedicated alias including a backstory not to exceed 750 words.

I personally don't use herolabs, but their format is very easy to read , so I would appreciate it if you can emulate that format.

Aside from that, please give us all the basics of your character, fluff and crunch and we can figure out how you guys know each other. Right now I'm envisioning somewhat established adventurers who may or may not have worked together in the past. You're down to your last few coins, and may have a reason to get out of Magnimar quickly.

I'm looking forward to this game and hopefully you are too.

As far as posting expectations go, I'm hoping that everyone can post once a day during the week, and optionally once during the weekend. I also understand that life gets in the way, especially with the holidays coming up. I expect things to slow down then, but hopefully we will keep it going into the new year. I am ok GMPCing your character if necessary, but if you're going to be unavailable for a while, please let the rest of the group know so we can plan accordingly.

Max for first level. Additional levels are roll or half +1, your choice. So if you have a d10 for hit dice you get 10+con, 5+con, 6+con for your first three levels if you opt for half +1 method. If you decide to roll for second level and go half+1 for third, you would get 5+con for third level.

Tekk was previously involved in an aborted Rise of the Runelords campaign, so his background ended with him living and working out of Magnimar as a caravan guard and occasional adventurer. Without changing too much here, I'm thinking he might be familiar with the other characters through his adventuring and/or caravan duties. If not through his work, Tekk spends most of this time in Underbridge beneath the Irespan, so he could also have made acquaintances in that part of the city.

Suggestions for Tekk's knowlege of other characters (please feel free to disagree and provide alternatives!):

Chloe: She and Tekk likely have seen each other around Magnimar since they frequent the same locations. Possibly also adventured together a time or two.

Sarusa: Would Sarusa have agreed to guide a group of explorers to examine The Lady's Light? It would have involved a trip through the Mushfens.

(Everyone feel free to read the spoilers, just doing it to save space.)

Jeminda Anikee:

One of Tekk's "adventures" found him facing off against a small group of bandits north of the city. A former Caravan Master hired Tekk and a few other guards to go find the bandits and either kill or capture them. During the job, the group found a bag marked with Magnimar's seal containing several hundred gold pieces. When the group returned to town, Tekk returned the bag to the city, and he met Jeminda Anikee. After explaining the situation, she accepted the money and promised to keep him in mind if any employment opportunities came across her desk.

Road Trip:

Unfortunately, Tekk was the victim of a botched pickpocket several nights ago. Things got heated, three Sczarni thugs ended up unconscious, and Tekk lost most of his money. One of Tekk's friends found him a couple of days later, let him know the men he beat up were looking to pay him back, and suggested he take a short vacation. Since he was broke anyway, Tekk decided his friend was right and he should let the situation cool off. He started wandering around that morning looking for something that would put some coin in his pocket far outside the walls of Magnimar.

Sarusa indubitably loves tramping through the wilderness, mushy or no, and The Lady's Light is a fantastic artifact of old Thassilon.

Jeminda Anikee:

The business end of adventuring and guiding can be a complicated one, and Sarusa's mother introduced her to Jeminda, an auditor who assisted Sarusa in the methods of keeping her books--and providing Magnamarian and Varisian revenue, of course. Sarusa was able to save up for her masterwork weapons in that way, which is a strong motivator for someone who'd rather not care about money and spend all of her time in the fields and jungles. Her current state of finances show a bit of spendthrift, and she realizes she needs a job quickly, not to mention she's gotten restless inside city walls.

Looking good so far guys. This is coming together quite nicely and we're getting some decent interest in the recruitment thread as well. Hopefully our ranger will surface at some point in the near future and introduce himself.

He'll primarily be a ranged character relying on a Longbow and flying high in the sky on the back of a Hippogriff. I'll probably dump some points into intelligence too so he can double up as a skill monkey.

Is there any chance I could have some insight as to what good Starting Languages, Favored Enemy and Terrain choices might be?

Chloe's proximity to the marketplace where the auditor's sister went into labor saw her taking the woman to the nearest available place and watching over her for a day and delivering a breached child without harming the babe or his mother.

This act was the start of a friendship between the Anikees and the oracle, and Jaminda has also been more than helpful in helping Chloe find adventuring work from time to time.

Doug, lots of People in Varisia speak Varisian, so that's useful, as are the goblin and giant tongues. Then there's ancient Thassilonian, could come in handy, or maybe not.

As for terrains, most types are represented in Varisia, from swamp to forest, plain and mountain. There is a significant amount of coast-line and plenty of cities if you want to select coastal or urban. It's pretty wide open.

Regarding favored enemies, well, you can't go wrong with humanoids, although for this particular adventure, aberrations might prove useful as a favored enemy.

So, with that information, Corbyn, why are you in Magnimar? Are you an envoy? A spy? Why are you adventuring instead of returning to Korvosa? Do people know that you are a member of the company? Where is your Hippogriff? Is it hatched or still an egg? What is your current relationship with the company? How do you know Jeminda Anikee, a minor functionary in the Magnimar Office of Revenues and Plats? How do you know the other party members?

Some thoughts, feel free to use or dismiss as the mood strikes you. :)

Corbyn could have been caught up in political games between the rulers of Korvosa and the Sable Company Marines. He was ambushed during a routine patrol, lost his hippogriff in battle, and was forced to flee after being accused of treason. His fellow marines know he's innocent, but the Order of the Nail has a warrant for his arrest, and everyone knows he won't survive (or receive a fair trial) if they catch him.

Hiding his stature as a Sable Company marine, he has ended up in Magnimar, hoping the city provides a relatively safe place for him to begin recovering his name and position.

In the weeks since, he has accepted some odd jobs around town, all the while attempting to learn more about what really happened. Some of these jobs have required him to sign documents in front of Jeminda Anikee on more than one occasion when going to get his money.

Unfortunately, he has also learned that several strange men have been seen around Magnimar asking questions about somebody matching his description. Figuring his cover has been blown, Corbyn is preparing to leave the city and continue hiding until he is ready to return to Korvosa and confront the real traitors!

Cute. Backstory looks good Corbyn. I'll leave it to you guys to determine if Corbyn, Morin and Karo know each other and to what extent. Also, I'd like to know what, if any connection you three might have to Jeminda.

Finally, I'd like to talk about a few things, just to make sure that we're on the same page.

In terms of alignment, everyone is statted as NG or CG at this time, so I'm expecting a relatively heroic campaign. For this module, it shouldn't be too much of an issue, but I want to make sure I'm running a game that you all enjoy, so if anyone wants things a bit more grimdark or what have you, please let me know and we'll see what the group is willing to accommodate.

As far as APL, based on your stats and the number in the party, I am going to be considering CR5 to be a level equivalent encounter. Anything below that should be easy mode. I will of course adjust this based on game play. Thoughts, comments or suggestions are always welcome. Also, as many of you know, I am not shy about reminding my GM's of rules that may be appropriate. (Especially when I can use them to my advantage.) I welcome the rest of you to do the same to me. At least this way, I'll get a taste of my own medicine.

I plan to open the game thread during the weekend after thanksgiving. Until then, please fill out equipment for a long journey (so we can hand-waive that part once it's time to leave Magnimar) and feel free to flesh out your characters interactions / knowledge of each other.

Feel free to accept or reject any of these ideas. Karo, Morin and Corbyn could have met/meet at a taphouse/inn, perhaps in the Beacon's Point neighborhood. Over ales they discuss wanting to get out of Magnimar. As per Jerminda, Karo could have acted as a messenger or scribe(I would have to incorporate a couple skills, possibly setting up taking Scribe Scroll later on). I'm open to any and all input.

so if anyone wants things a bit more grimdark or what have you, please let me know and we'll see what the group is willing to accommodate.

I'm in favor of a very dark campaign. I'm also fine with the liberal use of profanity.

GM Psychic Machinery wrote:

As far as APL, based on your stats and the number in the party, I am going to be considering CR5 to be a level equivalent encounter. Anything below that should be easy mode. I will of course adjust this based on game play.

Challenging is a good thing for me. I wouldn't mind playing on Hard Mode. Really try to place the fear of death into us.

GM Psychic Machinery wrote:

Until then, please fill out equipment for a long journey.

Do we need to worry about things like meals?

Traveling with a large amount of cargo wont be an issue since Plod has a wagon we can put our stuff in.

Does anybody have Abundant Ammunition prepared? If its going to be a long journey than 80 arrows may not be enough to last me.

------

Corbyn is trying to keep a low profile at the moment. I don't imagine he would know more than 2 other players at the start. He'd probably be petitioning some of them for work or accompanying them on a different job.

I'm willing to leave it open to you all as to how and if your characters know each other. There should be plenty of opportunity to RP as you travel to Ravenmoor, so it is not mandatory, but mostly I want you all to have some substantial reason to undertake this journey and travel together.

Regarding meals, ammunition, encumbrance, etc., my take is that these things do help with immersion, but bean counting is mostly not fun. So, keep track of it to the best of your ability, but it's on the honor system, and unless someone is abusing these things I'm not going to focus on it too much. You should probably bring food, but with a ranger and a druid, you guys should be able to feed yourselves relatively well.

That being said arrows are cheap (so are blunted arrows) and you guys are playing experienced adventurers. You can expect to encounter creatures with DR and other immunities. Failure to equip yourselves accordingly will make things more difficult. You have been warned. Please feel free to adjust your equipment accordingly.